Fox eyes more outside rides in the autumn after spring lull

Lucinda Russell and Derek Fox after winning the Grand National with One For Arthur

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

1 of
1

By Jack Haynes
5:48PM, JUN 8 2017

Grand National-winning jockey Derek Fox is hoping his high-profile success will spark further interest from outside stables in the autumn following a relatively quiet period in the saddle.

Fox, who turned 25 last month, has ridden two winners in Britain and Ireland since his National success on April 8 - a day that is “still very much fresh in the memory”.

Fox said: “I still can’t get over it really. The last few months have flown by. It’s been very exciting and time seems to be going very fast.

“With the summer taking over now the racing is fairly quiet and, although I’ve not seen much change in terms of support from elsewhere, I’ve been busy enough with rides from Lucinda [Russell] - who has always been very good to me - and the yards that have always used me.

“Hopefully once the season is back in full swing I might pick up some rides from other yards as well.”

Fox is targeting “a nice Saturday winner or two” to further boost his profile next season with One For Arthur the most likely candidate to provide another memorable day.

He said: “One For Arthur is on his holidays and in good health - hopefully there will be a few more races in him next year.

“We’ll see how the season goes, and it’s a long way away, but if it all goes to plan it would be great for him to try to retain the National. It will be a massive challenge - it’s clearly not easy to do - but if he can get back there in April he’ll be competitive.”

The rider’s agent Bruce Jeffrey believes that where the National falls in the racing calendar is a factor.

Jeffrey said: “It’s a difficult time of the year with the season tending to wind down after the National, but we’re hoping once October comes around we'll see the benefits of winning such a high-profile and prestigious race.

“I speak to Derek on an almost daily basis about how things are going - he’s a very level-headed man and although it’s tough for all jockeys out there, we’re hoping good things will come.”

Hopefully once the season is back in full swing I might pick up some rides from other yards as well